Hatch-cover.



PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904V R. R. LARRY. MTRRv COVER.

APPLIUATIOK FILED SEPT. 14, 1903.

2 BEBETB-BHEBTL I0 KODEL MW M A PATRNTRD JUNE za, 1904. R. R. LAGER.

HATCH COVER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14, 1903.

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I UNITED STATES Patented June 28, 1904.

RM1-:rrr OFFICE.

ROBERT R. LACEY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

HATCH-COVE R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,493, dated June 28,1904.

Application led September 14, 1903. Serial Fo. 173,033. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

practical construction, affording a secure tight cover for the hatch,and enabling the easy operation of the same.

` Another object of the invention is to provide securing devices wherebythe hatch-cover can be tightly and securely closed with ease andexpedition.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 is atransverse vertical sectional elevation of the deck of a vessel andhatch provided with a cover embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a planview thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof, on anenlarged scale, in line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is afragmentary transversevertical section on an enlarged scale, showing onehalf of thehatch-cover opened. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section,on an enlarged scale, in line 5 5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a fragmentarytransverse vertical section, on an enlarged scale, showing the positionassumed by the cover-sections in opening the hatch. Fig. Z is aperspective viewon an enlarged scale, of one of thecover-securingdevices. Fig. 8 isan enlarged perspective View of one of the hatch-coversections. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan View showing one end of the4hatch with the cover removed. Fig. l() `is an enlarged perspective viewof the plate for .closing the space between the inner cover'- sections.Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional elevvationrshowing the closing-platein. place.

Like letters 'of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

rllhe hatch-cover hereinafter described is equally applicable to hatchesfor vessels, warehouses, and other structures, but is .herein onlydescribed in connection witha vesselhatch.

A represents the deck of la vessel, and B a hatch which is surrounded bythe usual raised coaming b. The hatch is rectangular in shape, and thecoaming, aswell as the deck, is conveXed or slopes downwardly fromthecenter toward the opposite sides ofthe vessel.

' The hatch-cover consists of ak plurality of separate sections orplates C, preferably disposed in two"oppositely-arranged sets or series,each set constituting one-half ofthe tions toward and from the center ofthe hatch to close and open the saine. As the two sets are alike, oneonly will 4be described. Each cover section is preferably made of `aiiat rectangular metal plate, the side edges of which overhang and restupon the hatch-coaming when the hatch is closed and is provided on itsunder side adjacent to the side edges with depending retaining and guidecleats or strips D, which extend down inside of the sides of ythehatch-coaming to hold the coversections from side movement anddisplacement. The several cover-sections are also provided at theirinner longitudinal edges with depending vertical flanges E, which eX-tend down between the sides of the coaming. The flanges E are'preferably formed by angle-shaped bars or lplates having horizontalportions riveted to the under sides of the AThe sections ofthe two setsor l cover-plates.l The vertical flange for each jecting lug e, whichengages in a corresponding notch e in the vertical flange of theadjacent section to prevent the accidental lifting of the inner edge ofone section off of the section beneath it. Y

Frepresents .hook-openings provided in the Each vertical flange is vpreferably provided with a horizontally-prohorizontal portions of theangle-bars of each cover-section except the innermost of the set, and Grepresents depending hooks located at the outer longitudinal edge ofeach cover-seetion except the outermost section of the set. When thehatch is closed the meeting edges of the cover-sections overlap, and thehooks G on each section engage in the hook-openings F in the adjacentsection. The outer faces g of the hooks Gr and the outer edges of thehook-openings are rounded or beveled to enable the hooks to disengagethe hook-openings when the sections are slid outwardly to open thehatch, and the inner faces of the hooks are inclined or undercutsomewhat to prevent the hooks from slipping out of their openings whenclosing the hatch and to prevent the detachment of thesections when thehatch is closed. When the hatch' is closed, the outer longitudinal edgeof one cover-section -rests on the top face of the liange-angle of theadjacent section, with the top faces ofthe several cover-sectionssubstantially iiush. The meeting longitudinal edges of thecover-sections are beveled, as indicated' at L, to prevent the edgesfrom catching and interfering with the proper opening of the hatch. Eachof the cover-sections except the innermost is also provided at its sideedges with raised guides or tracks I, having oppositely-beveled or.

rounded ends rlhe tracks are separated or spaced farther apart than theretaining-cleats on the under sides'Y of the cover-sections, so that theretaining-cleats of one section slide in between the tracks on` the nextlower section when the hatch is opened.

K, Figs. l and 2, represents removable deck-tracks located at thetwoends of the hatch for the end sectionsof the cover to slide upon.Each track is provided with legs or feet in, which are removablyinserted in sockets 7c', provided therefor on the deck. When the hatchis to be opened, the deck-tracks are positioned parallel with the sidesof the hatch,

. with their feet inthe sockets c, as shown by lfull lines in Fig. 2,and when the hatch is opened the outer cover-section slides on and issupported by the tracks. y When the hatch is closed, the tracks can bemoved around into .the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig.

Ais removably attached in any suitable manner to a standard or uprightZ4 at the side of the vesselropposite the end of the hatch, and a hook Zat the end of a rope or cable Z, running over the said sheave, isengaged in the ring l at the outer edge of the inner coversection. Bydrawing on the free end of the rope or cable the inner cover-section ispulled outwardly,its hooks G disengaging from their openings F in thenext outer section and the inner section riding up on the tracks on saidnext outer section. XV hen the depending flange at the inner edge of theinnermost section engages the iiange on the adjacent section, the latteris also moved outward, in turn riding upon the tracks of the thirdsection, as indicated in Fig. 6. The several sections of one set arethus successively moved out until all of the sections of the set aresuperposed and supported by the deck-tracks K. The outward movement ofthe cover-sections is arrested by the engagement of the lvertical iiangeon the outer section with the end of the hatch-coaming. The other halfof the cover is similarly opened by shifting the sheave l" to theupright Zi at the opposite side of the deck and attaching the hook onthe rope to the outer ring of the inner cover-section of the other set.To close the hatch, the hook at the end of the operating-rope is engagedin the inner ring l of the inner cover-section on the far side of thehatch and the sections of one half of the cover drawn into place. Inclosing the hatch the inner section slides on the tracks I of the nextlower section until thel hooks G atl the outer edge drop into theirholes .in the inner edge. of the next section, when the latter is alsodrawn inwardly until its hooks in .turn engage in the hookopenings inthe third section. The hooksof each section thus engage in theirhook-openings in the next section until all ofv the sections of one halfof the cover are drawn into place. The sections are arrested in theirvproper closed position by the engagement of a hooked flange m in theouter edge of thc outer section with the end of the hatch-coping. Theother half of the hatch is similarly closed. The outer ends oftheretaining-cleats on the' bottoms of the sections are reduced or roundedto enable the outer edges of the sections to lower and the hooks (i toenter their respective hook-openings. Any other suitable means may beemployed for operating the hatch-cover.

The friction of the parts is lessened and the operation of thehatch-cover rendered easier by providing antifriction-rollers n, Fig. 9,journaled at the ends of the hatch-coaining, on .which the outercover-sections bear when moving the same, and also journaling similarrollers a', Fig. 8, in suitable pockets at the inner ends of theraisedtracks on each coversection for the next section to bear upon when beingmoved. The ends of the hatch-ecaming are also preferably notched at 0,Fig. 9,

IOO

IOS

IIO

through-these notches inopening and-closing the hatch. The outersections can thus slide horizontally outward and are not raised, whichisdesirable. y I.

After the hatch has been opened and the cover sections piled orsuperposed as described they arenot connected, but simply rest one uponthey other, and 1they can be removed to any desired place. f Tofacilitate carrying the ycover-sections, the raised tracks on the sameare provided with holes p for the engagement of carrying hooks ordevices. The inner .sections which do not have the raisedtracks areprovided with perforated lugs -p for the carrying-hooks.'

The hatchcover is provided with locking or securing devices,preferablyconstructed as follows: Y j y v Q, Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 7,represents bolts or screws having central -heads or portions for theengagement of an operating wrench or tool andoppositely-,projectingright and left hand threaded shanks which screwinto threaded holes in nuts or blocks g. The latter are removably seatedin correspondingly shaped holes q in the adjacent edges of the two innersections of the cover, in which they are held from turning' ywhen thebolts are turned. By turning the bolts or screws the sections of the twosets or halves of the cover are drawn toward eachother. As the.cover-sections are held Ain an arc by the curved hatch-.coaming they aredrawn iir-mly down upon the coaming by tightening the bolts or screws,and a Very secure tight closure is effected without the employment ofany additional securing devices, such as are ordinarily used around thevseveral sides of the hatch. As a large number of these fasteningdevices' are ordinarily required, a great savingof time and laborresults from the use of the securing devices described.

R represents a plate or bar for closing the space which is left betweenthe adjacent edges of the inner cover-sections. v This cover-plate isprovided at its opposite ends with anged depending lugs 71, the flangesof which are enlines in Fig. 3) can be placed over the hatchand securedin the well-known manner. I claim as my inventionl. The combination of aplurality of hatchcover sections provided attheir adjacent edges withdetachable interlocking portions vand adapted to slide one upon the.other4 to open the hatch, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination. ofa plurality of hatchp cover sections havingoverlapping edges provided with detachable interlocking. portions andadapted to slide onev uponthe other to open the hatch, substantially. ass'et forth.

3. rfhe combination of a plurality of hatchf cover sections havingyoverlapping edges provided with detachable cooperating hooks andhook-openings, and adapted to slide one upon the other' to open 'the setforth. .f v

4. The combination of aplurality-of hatchcover sections provided attheir adjacent ed ges4 with detachable interlocking portions, the topfaces of said sections being substantially Hush when the hatch isclosed, and said sections being adapted to slide one vupon the otherto.

open the hatch, substantially as set forth'' .5. The combination of a-plurality of hatchcover sections, the top facesof which are sub-`stantially flush when theihatclrisclosed and having overlapping edgesprovided with de-` tachable cooperating hooks and hook-openings, saidsections being adapted to slide one.

hatch, substantiallyk as upon the other to4 open the hatch,substantially as set forth. I j

6. rl`he combination ofa plurality of 'hatchcover sections havingoverlappingv edges provided with d'etachable interlocking portions,

said sections having coperatingportions whereby the.interlockingportions' are disengaged and one section caused to rideupon thev adjacent section to open the hatch, substantially as setforth.

7. The combinationof cover sections provided at their adjacent edgeswith detachable.interlocking portions, one seca pluralityiof hatch-v IOOtion having raised tracks provided with beveled ends, `wherebythe othersection-is caused to ride upon said tracks and said interlockingportions are disengaged, by moving said lastmentioned sectionhorizontally, substantially as set forth.

ITO

8. The combination of a plurality of hatch- IYI5 plurality ofcover-sections provided at their adjacent edges with detachableinterlocking f portions, cleats-on the bottoms of said sections whichextend down between the sides of said coaming when the hatch is closed,and tracks on the tops of said sections parallel with and spaced fartherapart than said cleats,

the tracks on one section serving to support Azo and guide the adjacentsection, substantially as set forth.

10. Thecombination of a hatch, a plurality of cover-sections provided attheir adjacent edges with detachable interlocking portions, and havingdepending ianges at their inner edges, substantially as set forth.

11. A hatch-cover section having an edge portion offset to occupy aplane below the plane of the top of the section, said portion havingmeans for the engagement of coperating means on an adjacentcover-section, substantially as set forth.

12. A hatch-cover section, comprising a plate, an angle-shapedl piecehaving a hori- Zontal portion secured to the under side of said plate atone edge and having a depending flange, the horizontal portion of saidangleshaped piece having one or more hook-openings for the engagement ofhooks on an adjacent section, substantially as set forth.

13. A hatch-cover section, comprising a plate having oppositely -beveledopposite edges, a piece secured to the bottom of said plate andprojecting beyond one of said bev- -eled edges, said piece having one ormore openings for the engagement of hooks on an adjacent section,substantially as set forth.

14. The combination of two oppositely-disposed hatch-cover sections, anda screw device having threaded engagements with parts carried by' saidsections for drawing the same together, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination of two oppositely-disposed hatch-cover sectionsprovided with sockets, blocks seated in said sockets and having threadedholes, and a'screw having threaded portions working in the threadedholes in said blocks for drawing said sections together, substantiallyas set forth.

16. The combination of a hatch-cover, comprising a plurality ofsections, a part carried by one of said sections and having a threadedhole, a screw working in said threaded hole, and a part to which saidscrew is connected and toward which said cover-section is moved by saidscrew, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination of a hatch-cover, comprising a plurality ofconnected sections arranged in two oppositely-disposed sets, and asecuring device located centrally of the hatch for drawing said sets ofsections together to secure the cover, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination of oppositely-disposed hatch-cover sections, a screwdevice for securing said sections together, and a plate detachablyconnected to said sections for closing the intervening space,substantially as set forth.

19. The combination of a hatch, a hatchcover comprising a plurality ofsections adapted to be slid one on the ot-her, and tracks arrangedbeyond the ends of said hatch and on which said sections are moved andsupported, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination of a plurality of movable hatch-cover sectionsadapted to occupy substantially the same plane when the hatch is closed,and means acting to stack said scctions when they are moved to open thehatch, substantially as set forth.

21. The combination of a plurality of movable hatch-cover sections,detachable interlocking parts on said sections, for causing the same tomove successively in opening and closing the hatch, and means acting tostack said sections when they are moved to open the hatch, substantiallyas set forth.

22. rlhe combination of a plurality of sliding hatch-cover sectionsprovided at their adjacent edges with detachable interlocking portions,the top faces of said sections being substantially fiush when the hatchis closed, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 11th day of September, 1903.

ROBERT R. LACEY.

Witnesses:

EDWARD C. HEARD, C. B. HoRNBnoK.

